152 A PAINFUL PAST 2

"Leia don't you dare do this, please," Glacier begged and kept on hitting on the barrier.

With its incessant hitting, the barrier became visible. It was enshrouded in a golden ray of light, like several circular unbreakable rings.

Soon its body was lifted up the ground by an unknown force. After a few minutes of chanting the spell, she opened her eyes to look at it. They were both standing face to face in the air.

"This is the only way I can ensure your total protection."

The tears streamed down their faces as they stared at each other.

"No! How could you Leia, after all we've been through together? No. Release me from this barrier now!"

"I'm sorry Glacier, but I cannot do that."

Glacier used all its might to hit continuously on the barrier but it wouldn't bulge. She winced slightly at the pain but Glacier didn't notice it. It continued once more, hitting harder. Each strike carried more force than the last.

"AAHHH!!!" 

It was not until she cried out in pain that it stopped. Its eyes opened wide in shock. What had it done? It was too busy trying to break out and ignoring the pain, that it forgot it was literally hurting her.

"Leia!!" It yelled her name. Its eyes moved frantically all over her body. "Leia, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Leia, please forgive me," it begged her.

She gave it a subtle smile and replied, "I know Glacier. I know. This is why you must go."

"Then please, let me out of here. Let me hold you, please."

It wanted nothing more than that. It couldn't bear seeing her in pain.

"I am sorry. This is goodbye. Till we meet again, my Glacier Phoenix."

As soon as she said those words, she murmured some words and the golden rays spun once and shot into the sky.

"LEIA!!

"I am sorry, Glacier. I hope you would find it in your heart to forgive me." 

She flew back down and burst into tears, crying her heart out.

**FLASHBACK ENDS**

"WOW!" White Wing muttered.

Really Glacier, well the Elder had every right to be angry. She sent it away.

"Hmm. I cannot see her."

"I understand. Grandfather, why didn't you go back to her irrespective?"

"She made sure I would never leave here to find her."

"Huh! What exactly did she do?"

"Leia severed our bond."

"That is… To a beast in a master and beast companion contract, that was too harsh."

The Elder lightly chuckled at White Wing's remark.

'Gods of our realm, hear me, I pray thee. Severe this contract between it and I. Back to the Elven forest it goes, not to come out again till all is safe and done. I hereby free you, Glacier Phoenix from this bond of pain and hurt. Goodbye Glacier, you would forever be in my heart. I love you, my friend.' It recalled her last words, making a tear stream down its face.

Glacier moved away from where it was and wandered around the garden which they were in.

"I tried and tried but to no avail. I flew but would always slam right into her barrier. After a day of trying, I finally went through the boundary."

"You gave up like that?"

"No, I never gave up. I went through the boundary and came out an hour later, in hopes that my entering would cause her barrier to disappear when I come out. Little did I know that Leia would think things through, she knew how stubborn I was."

"What a Fairy Queen. You had one heck of a master, Grandfather."

"You do not know Leia's powers. She wasn't just the Fairy Queen for nothing. Although the enchantment she did was mixed with Draco's spell, thus ensuring a permanent barrier."

Glacier stopped moving and came to stand face to face with White Wing.

"After I came out, there was still no way. I did for more than a year, trying and hoping it would weaken, but nothing changed. All I could hope for was for the war to end. She never reached me through our mind communication or came to visit. It was as though Leia disappeared from my life."

"That's unfortunate," White Wing sympathized with the Elder.    

"It was not until later, eighteen years back that I felt something from her. She had severed the bond between us, but I could still sense her aura, especially because of her barrier around me. I lowly felt her life force go as her aura faded away. To confirm my suspicion, I rushed out of the boundary and tried flying. I was right, her magic was gone. Leia was dead."  

"But I chose not to believe it and flew as fast as I could towards Fortland. I was mad at her, but at that moment her safety mattered most. By the time I got to the border, I saw her sprawled on the ground dead. There was an argument between the elves, sorcerers and fairies. I didn't know what had happened, but I was too far hurt. Leia didn't fulfil her words to me and in anger, I returned back to the forest peak."    

"I understand. You were in pain, but what do you want to do now?" White Wing repeated its earlier question. 

"Seeing her brought back all the hurt and pain. Only now I noticed that I never got over it. White-Fire was right. My anger, it was my way of covering my hurt." 

"Would you forgive her and see her grandchild?"        

"I have seen the hybrid."

"Not that Grandfather Glacier, I mean to speak to her."

A single word White Wing said brought back all the hidden emotions and pain in full force. Glacier didn't know when the tears started flowing freely from its eyes. All it knew, was that that word brought back loving and painful memories.

"Grandfather, what is the matter? Did I say something wrong?" White Wing asked the Elder. Its eyes brimming with confusion at the bigger beast's reaction to what it said.

Glacier shook its head and replied to the confused White Wing.

"No, that's not it."

"Then what is it? What caused Grandfather to shed tears? Don't tell me its tears of joy?"

"No."

"Then what?!"